Directions:

The Steens Mountain is a fault-block mountain, approximately 30 miles long, rising at its highest to 9,733 feet in elevation. Malheur National Wildlife Refuge occupies the valley of the Donner und Blitzen River to the west. Malheur is a popular destination for birders. On the east lies the Alvord Desert, about 5000 feet lower than the highest point on the Steens.

One may best approach the Steens Mountain from the north by finding Oregon State Highway 205 in Burns, and driving 55+ miles south to Frenchglen. This section of the road is paved, and many side trips to observe wildlife in the Malheur National Wildlife Refuge are possible. At Frenchglen, leave the highway and turn east on a dusty road. Several miles later, at Page Springs Camp Ground, you begin the long, rough ascent of the mountain. The trip may done as a 55 mile loop once the snow drifts melt at the summit (usually early to mid July). Keep your tank filled with gas, make sure your spare tire is full, and that your car is in good operating condition! The nearest services are several hours away in Burns. Gas is available in Frenchglen, as are some food supplies, a small hotel, and a restaurant. Camping (fee) is available at the Steens Mountain Resort, Page Springs Campground (BLM) on the Donner und Blitzen River, and seasonally at Fish Lake Campground, Jackman Park Campground, and the South Steens Campground (all BLM).

When visiting this beautiful area, be considerate of both the flora and fauna! Living conditions are harsh, and human activities heavily impact the area. Tire tracks, human impacts, human and animal wastes, as well as garbage may be observed for many years. The topsoil is very thin in many cases, and plants are easily disturbed or killed. Please don't pick the flowers. Use your camera! It is probably best to bring your own firewood. The aspens, mountain mahogany, and juniper are sparsely distributed over the mountain, and would quickly disappear if used to build fires.

1. Blepharipappus: Blepharipappus scaber

2. Hoary False-yarrow: Chaenactis douglasii

3. Green-banded Star Tulip: Calochortus macrocarpus

4. Threadstalk Milk-vetch: Astragalus filipes

5. Pearhip Rose: Rosa woodsii

6. Elkhorns Clarkia: Clarkia pulchella

7. Nine-leaf Desert Parsley: Lomatium triternatum

8. Steen's Mt. Thistle, Peck's Thistle: Cirsium peckii

9. Rosy Pussytoes: Antennaria rosea

10. Yellow Desert Daisy: Erigeron linearis

11. Yarrow: Achillea millefolium

12. Bolander's Yampah: Perideridia bolanderi?

13. Western Groundsel: Senecio integerrimus var. exaltatus

14. Kellogg's Spurred Lupine: Lupinus caudatus

15. Penstemon: Penstemon species (possibly procera?)

16. Woolly Groundsel: Senecio canus

17. Orange Sneezeweed Dugaldia hoopesii :

18. Wild Onion: Allium species

19. Yellow-flowered Navarretia, Brewer's Navarretia: Navarettia breweri

20. Pussytoes: Antennaria species- White flower heads.

21. Hairy Owl-clover: Orthocarpus hispidus

22. Wavy-leaved Paintbrush: Castilleja applegatei

23. Narrow-leaved Paintbrush, Wyoming Paintbrush: Castilleja linariaefolia

24. Shasta Clover: Trifolium longipes

25. Alpine Sorrel, Mountain Sorrel: Rumex paucifolius

26. Fan-leaf Cinquefoil: Potentilla gracilis

27. Prairie Smoke: Geum triflorum

28. Pink PinwheelsTawny Horkelia: Horkelia fusca var. capitata

29. Longstalk Starwort: Stellaria longipes

30. Giant Frasera: Frasera speciosa

31. Pussy Paws: Cistanthe umbellatum

32. Sticky Purple Geranium: Geranium viscosissimum

33. Goosefoot Violet: Viola purpurea

34. Silverleaf Phacelia: Phacelia hastata

35. Linanthastrum: Linanthastrum nuttallii

36. Showy Penstemon: Penstemon speciosus

37. Nettle-leaf Horse-mint: Agastache urticifolia var. urticifolia Mint Family- A fragrant plant, and a favorite of butterflies!

38. Tickseed: Hackelia species

39. Dwarf Lewisia: Lewisia pygmaea

40. Common Camas: Camassia quamash

41. Ballhead Waterleaf: Hydrophyllum capitatum

42. Yellow Prairie Violet: Viola nuttallii

43. Bulblet Prairie Star: Lithophragma bulbifera Saxifrage Family

44. Dwarf hesperochiron: Hesperochiron pumilus

45. Small-flowered Blue-eyed Mary: Collinsia parviflora

46. Downy-fruited Valerian: Valeriana acutiloba

47. Veiny Meadowrue?: Thalictrum venulosum

48. Long-flowered Bluebells: Mertensia longiflora

66. Hooker's Onion, Taper-tip Onion: Allium accuminatum

1. Brewers Blackbird

2. Western Meadowlark

3. White-faced Ibis

4. Killdeer

5. Barn Swallow

6. Yellow-headed Blackbird

7. Red-winged Blackbird

8. California Quail

9. Canada Geese

10. Coot

11. Avocet

12. Western Kingbird

13. Black-necked Stilt

14. Bullock's Oriole

15. Yellow Warbler

16. Nighthawk

17. Harrier

18. House Wren

19. Black-chinned Hummingbird

20. Say's Phoebe

21. American Robin

22. Black Tern

23. Gadwall

24. Northern Flicker

25. Bobolink

26. Osprey

27. Kestral

28. Mule Deer Doe and fawns

29. Yellow-bellied Marmot

30. Horned Lark

31. Mountain Bluebird

32. Loggerhead Shrike

33. Black-billed Magpie

34. House Sparrow

35. White-crowned Sparrow

36. Song Sparrow

37. Black-headed Grosbeak

38. Yellow-breasted Chat

39. Cedar Waxwing

40. Sage Thrasher

41. Cliff Swallow

42. Tree Swallow

43. Raven

44. Turkey Vulture

45. Lark Sparrow